Alex G. Foulk was the poster child of the “All-American kid,” said his mother, Kim Carlson.

From his zeal for sports to his work as a youth counselor, Foulk, a lifelong Jamestown resident, was someone whose love of life was apparent to all who knew him.

“He was loved by everybody,” Carlson said. “He was the best son a mom could ever want.”

Unfortunately, like so many young people around the country who’ve fallen prey to the rising tide of heroin, Foulk died of an overdose on Feb. 26.

He was only 26 years old.

“(Alex’s death) sent shock waves not only through our family but the entire community,” Carlson said. “We realized very quickly though that we were not alone and that we as a family could help bring change and hope for others if we were perfectly honest about Alex’s death.”

Carlson would start an open forum called “Be Part of the Solution,” that would meet several times in Shawbucks and educate people on addiction.

She would also start two funds in memory of Alex.

The first – the Alex Foulk Memorial Fund – was started in conjunction with the Chautauqua Regional Community Foundation. It aims to raise funds for transitional housing for recovering addicts. The second, which goes by the same name, aims to help recovering addicts with their immediate needs.

“The immediate needs can range from shelter and transportation to food,” Carlson said.

On Saturday, “Be Part of the Solution” is sponsoring a Drug Addiction and Recovery Awareness Walk to help raise money for the Alex Foulk Memorial Fund and the need for transitional housing. The walk starts at 9 a.m. from Shawbucks, located at 212 West Second St. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the person with the highest dollar amount of pledges and one for the person with the largest number of sponsors.

The walk is also in honor of McKenzie Paulson, a 23-year-old graduate of Jamestown Community College who died of an overdose in June.

Saturday would have been her 24th birthday.

Immediately after the walk, a benefit will be held at the Hartfield Fire Hall for McKenzie’s children with a chicken dinner, Chinese auction, music, dancing, door prize and more. Email paulsonlacey@hotmail.com for the $20 tickets or more information. The Hartfield Fire Hall is at 6078 Elmwood Road, Mayville.

“When you enter recovery, there are different steps that need to be taken to have a healthy recovery,” Carlson said. “The idea behind this walk is that we’re willing to take steps to help other people get into recovery … and I wanted McKenzie’s family to be surrounded by support.”

Carlson continued, “in the long run we would love to see a nice clean safe place for people to begin their journey in recovery, a place that they can start over, a place where they can discover their true assets and return to the community in a healthy productive way. All things are possible when we come together.”

For more information on the Drug Addiction and Recovery Awareness Walk, email agfmtp@gmail.com. For online registration, to sponsor a walker or to make a donation, visit www.agfmtp.wufoo.com/forms/awareness.